009 RAF Misarah.

Well, the name is revealed at last. It is a mis-spelt version of RAF Masirah, a remote base off the coast of Oman.

There is a slim tome describing the actual operation and history of the narrow gauge railway used mainly for transferring fuel and provisions from supply ships.
One amusing snippet is the method of transferring the 45 gallon barrels of fuel. The local islanders merely threw them overboard and let them float to shore.

009 Aircraft Hanger.

 The basic shell has been cut out of mounting card and glued together. Corrugated Slaters plasticard has been cut to size to cover the hanger shell and the sliding doors. To hold the door cladding together a couple of magnets have been used as shown in the top picture.
So, time to paint- the shell will be covered with Humbrol grey undercoat then dry-brushed with a lighter hue and some evidence of rust.

009 Mini layout.

The basics are now done and ,as can be seen, locos are running.
The one shown running is a Liliput 0-4-0 Diesel shunter from Kernow- they have virtually the same offer as Rails but I find Kernow's site more user friendly so that's who gets my business.
The track infil has been done with artists mounting card cut with the aid of a Tracksetta 9inch curve.

Christmas presents.

Few words today just a nice new Loco and some layout nameboards which that nice man from Jurassic made and delivered to me.
Just have a restful day with a little alcoholic refreshment !!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

(This was recorded several days before Christmas)

Merry Christmas!!

A Merry Christmas to all viewers- I know this was posted on the old blog but still raises a smile.

Minitrains Decauville Progres 009.

This is one of Minitrains latest offerings. Three liveries are available and this one is an orangy red.
It really runs well and with a driver fitted is ready for work.

009 Rheneas 0-4-0 Saddle Tank.

I already had Scargoly which has been renamed Jasmine and now comes Rheneas, a cute 0-4-0 side tank.
The colour really cries out to be changed which it will be one I figure out how to get the thing apart!
But for now he can shuffle around Hillbrow until the fateful day I find out how to dismantle- then perhaps Maroon?

Corfe Castle December 2017.

Being a nice evening I popped over to Corfe Castle to see the castle illuminated.
As I got out of the car I heard a steam chime and a T9 came from Norden to cross the Corfe viaduct.
Doesn't get much better than this!
However, the climb up to the castle was worth it and I make no apology for including these pictures of what I believe is the most photogenic castle in the land.
As it got darker so the effect improved- thanks also to the National Trust for the free Mulled Wine and Shortbread it hit the spot.
On leaving the castle I just had to buy some Dorset Cider and Apple cake and one of their wonderful home-made Pork Pies- lunch tomorrow :).
If you can I recommend a trip to Corfe to see the castle shown to its best effect.

 The arty shot!!

009 Balcony Coaches.

This is a pair of , similar but not identical, coaches, one has solid balcony ends, the other chased out ironwork, I aquired from the 009 Society's sales table at the Colehill Open Day . They are both well made and painted but I have no idea of the origin of either. I expect there is someone in the know who can identify their origins-Please!

Controller at rest.

 For a long time there was the perenial problem of where to store controllers such as the Gaugemaster Walkabout, HH etc- until now.
I was tired or seeing controllers nosediving to the floor after the velcro had failed in sticking to said piece of equipment.
So- firstly John Greenwood came up with his laser cut MDF offering which does the job just rig ht.
Then Model Railway Solutions introduced a acrylic version but with a larger cut out to enable changing of the direction switch without removing the controller.
Both do the job they are designed for and come as a kit of parts to be stuck together.
At around the same price both are a useful addition to the exhibitors toolkit.

009 RNAD layout.

 Slowly the latest 009 layout is taking shape.
Designed to be a continuous running layout this shows the front , or visible part, which is pretty basic. The biggest challenge was to cut the track infil from card, which after several false starts, I found that it was easier to use a Tracksetta, 9 inch radius, as a cutting guide. Mitreing the edges to fit against the track chairs lowers the infil but it means a loco and trucks can pass through.

 This shows the rear, or fiddle yard, and hiding behind the knife is the actuator wire that operates the turnout on the front of the layout. The two fiddleyard points are just finger operated.
Below is an approximation on how it will look when ready for use. I have an idea for a name for the moving diorama but that will haveto wait for another day.

009 Whitemetal Coach.

This coach I found at the recent Poole MRE.
It is white metal with balsa wood floor and partitions, a couple of nylon bogies were also included.
However, I have no idea on what the prototype was.
The bogies will have to be replaced because no glue I have will stick Greenwich couplings to them!
Any help in identification would be appreciated.

4mm GWR Brake Vans.

 There has been a plethora of GWR Brake Vans recently.
So oldest build first -right- is the Oxford 6 wheeler in GW livery.This is the first release- waiting for the Bridport branded version.
Some have commented that the colour is the wrong shade- the photos don't show this so why were previous photos compared for shade difference- if I remember correctly the pictures from my first camera- a Brownie 127- differed wildly in hue and depended on who developed the film-

Second up is this from Hornby- a lovely model with separate handrails.
The only modification is the addition of the guard.
The Rogerstone allocation will have to be replaced by something more South Coast.

Again the new offering from Hornby but this time in BR livery.
The allocation to PAR brings back memories of holidays in Cornwall- would like one for Helston as well as I remember seeing one working during a visit to Gwinear Road- incidentally a good location to see early Western Diesels in action.

Woodlands 4mm Signal Box.

The time between glue and paint drying can be frustrating!
The Signal Box for Woodlands has been in progress for some considerable time spending several months in safe keeping inside the wine cabinet.
So-during down time it has been completed.
Will have to wait until after the Wessex Narrow Gauge open day before Woodlands can be re-erected and placing completed.

009 Point operation

Due to me being unable to upload onto various chat sites, it is easier for me to post on the blog and provide a link.
So this is the high tec (Ha Ha) way that turnouts are operated on Hillbrow and indeed on most of my layouts- its easier, cheaper and if point motors need to be fitted later, no further work is needed bar screwing desired motor onto the underside of the baseboard.
Cut a slot under the point blade actuator, and a hole through the baseboard frame, cut a piece of wire with one end bent at 90 degrees (or right angle if you prefer- don't know which one is politically correct) . this is inserted into a piece of tube of a snug fit and pushed through the holes and through the hole in the point throwbar. Hot glue the tube in place.

To prevent cuts and unwanted stabbing I put a redundant piece of electrical connector on the end of the piece through the frame.

The pics make it look a lot easier- you can also wire the frogs with a slide switch if needed- Hillbrow doesn't require it.
Total cost, about 30p plus switch if required, about £1.

009 RNAD layout.

This is how far I have progressed with the RNAD diorama.
The single point on the scenic side is operated by wire in  tube for simplicity.
The aircraft apron has been covered with black artists mounting card, just have to cut the bits between the tracks and the scenics can begin!
Must decide on a name for this- fictitious- layout.

009 RNAD Diorama.

 With the continuing saga of the next 009 layout, I have built or collected several vehicles to complement the diorama.
The ubiqutos Bedford refuelling  bowser is probably out of period- but Airfix have discontinued the Bedford TK kit.
The Land Rover, an Oxford product, is in era. The Austin Fire Tender is again an Oxford offering and would not appear this late in use.

 The refuelling kit from Airfix also includes several RAF personnel which will complement the scene-I hope!!
So all that is needed is a layout to adhere this lot to- hopefully the next post will reveal how far I have progressed.

Tri-ang TT Blue /Grey brake coach.

I never owned one of these whilst we had Pamelas Tri-ang TT layout, The ones we displayed were kindly loaned.
So- this one was found ,as a body only, on the 3mm Society secondhand stand. A couple of bogies with couplings have been added to give me my first Blue/Grey coach

Tri-angTT- De-ja-vous.

 As some of you may know, in a previous life my youngest daughter had an extensive collection of Tri-ang TT.
My youngest Grandson wanted a railway like Gramps.
So a 4x2ft chunk of 9mm ply has been surrounded with 2x1inch softwood to create a baseboard which will accommodate an oval of Tri-ang TT Mark 2 track obtained from the 3mm Society.

 A couple of Jinty's and a rake of suburban coaches together with five goods wagons completes the available stock.
A station , platforms and building, were collected at the recent West Byfleet meeting of the 3mm Society.
So how far will this go? Grandson 2 is already delighted with his trainset and yet again we will see how deep are the Finance Directors pockets?

009 RNAD Layout.

After a period of teasing, all will be revealed.
To the left is a BAE Hawk, as per The Red Arrows, but this one is in RAF training livery.
The layout -below -is an attempt to create a diorama  of a refuelling and rearming scenario using RNAD locos and stock with associated vehicles and personnel.
So, the track has been laid on a board about 24 x 21 inches with a single siding.
I have used damaged '\N' gauge track , the majority of which will be covered with the aircraft apron, with a very low relief aircraft hanger as a backscene.
So the mystery has been revealed- any thoughts or constructive comments will be welcomed- I have a pal who will make sure that the scene is a realistic representation to keep me on the straight and narrow.
No layout name has yet been chosen.

Wessex Narrow Gauge Modellers Open Day.

On Saturday 2nd December Hillbrow will be shown at :-

Wessex Narrow Gauge Modellers with Dorset 009 Society Members:
Narrow Gauge Model Railway "OPEN DAY":
Colehill Memorial Hall,
Cannon Hill Road,
Colehill,
Wimborne,
Dorset.
BH21 2LS

Opening times: 10.30-15.30

Admission £3

 Layouts include:
"Vale Quarry" (009) John Bruce
"Hillbrow" (009) Steve Fackrell
"Hirson Bellevue" (Hoe) Howard Coulson
"Llanfair Caerinion" (009) Andy Cundick
"Ryedown Lane" (009) Patrick Collins
"The Brickworks" (0-14) Arthur Budd
"St Mary's" (0-16.5) Julian Evison
"Avalon Brickworks" (0-16.5) Howard Martin

Loco testing station and test track - bring your poor performer for expert advice
Home layout to visit (009) - "Imperial Western Railway (Southern Division)" Brian Guilmant
009 Society Sales - plus special end of year clear out at half price of many smaller parts, scenery and track items

4mm Scale Thumper at Woodlands.

The level crossing gates have been fitted an I couldn't resist this shot of  the level crossing with a Class 2H- Thumper approaching.

4mm Scale LCUT Creative Railway Buildings.

 This is a new name to me- and these two kits were found at the recent Poole Model Railway Exhibition.
Laser cut with a contents list and instructions on where to download instructions. 
Shown here is a Station building which can be constructed in many different configurations and sizes.
Likewise the signal box can be made with right or left hand stairways.
After looking at the website I am amazed at the extent of their range see- www.lcut.co.uk